Josh Garrick: Can your heart handle all the choices?

Culture & Cocktails, presented by the Art & History Museums – Maitland (A&H), is Feb. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 210 W. Packwood Ave. in Maitland. Three super-talented artists — Cherie Dacko, Cake Marques, and Tracy Burke — are featured at this event. Dacko works in what she calls “bent realism”, creating surreal subjects in three-dimensional scenes, while Marques paints very untraditional subjects in the very traditional method of oil on board. Burke works in two dimensions on canvas, using her own recipe of oil paints and additives. Music will be provided by The Mudflappers. Admission is $5 (which includes one drink). Call 407-539-2181 or visit ArtandHistory.org

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Feb. 10-12 –

‘Battle of the Sexes’

The Orlando Ballet’s Artistic Director Robert Hill put Central Florida on notice in his first season when he created a series of sexy ballets for a program he called “Battle of the Sexes.” Working with bodies that stretch and exercise every day as part of their job, the idea was received with standing ovations with Hill bringing sexy back — Florida style! “Battle of the Sexes III”, presented by the Orlando Ballet, will take place Feb. 10-12 at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center in Orlando. Call 407-426-1739 or orlandoballet.org

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Feb 11 –

‘Luv Sux’

The volunteers who make up the Orlando Circle of Friends Chorus have felt the ‘dark side’ of the day of hearts and flowers and will produce their questionably tasteful annual fundraiser called “Luv Sux III” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11. If your experience with love has left you confused, befuddled or just plain messed up, the Circle of Friends wants to make it even worse. Their anti-Valentine’s Day cabaret is made up of songs about the misfortunes of love, sung by the wrong people. Prepare to be strangely entertained as their mismatched singers bemoan the horrors of that fateful February day. The cabaret will take place at 398 West Amelia St. in Orlando. For tickets, visit ocofchorus.com or call 407-345-OCOF (6263).

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Feb 12 –

Valentine Concert in Central Park

The merchants of Winter Park’s Park Avenue are making it easy (and free) to make a Valentine date with your sweetheart by presenting the second annual Valentine Concert in Central Park. Sponsored by Boyette, Cummins & Nailos, the event features the super-talented Michael Andrew and Swingerhead in an outdoor concert at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12. This year’s concert features Michael’s new 10-piece orchestra and his “better-than-Sinatra” voice. Michael was the headline singer for two years at the Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center in New York City. The Central Park stage is at 151 N. Park Ave. in Winter Park.

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Feb 15 to 26 –

‘Billy Elliot the Musical’

Billy Elliot is a kid from a working-class family in England who is training to be a boxer, because his hard-drinking father wants him to be something more than an out-of-work factory bloke. But Billy discovers — and becomes obsessed with — the world of ballet. While his family comes to terms with this strange (for them) career path, Billy gets a shot at a scholarship with a prestigious dance school. The event is at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center in Orlando from Feb. 15 to 26. Visit ticketmaster.com

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Feb 15 and 16 –

By popular demand, Ms. Jacqueline Jones

She may be the best known — and best-loved — singer in all of Central Florida, and now the incomparable Ms. Jacqueline Jones is back to present her cabaret act “What is This Thing Called Love?” on Feb. 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m., as part of the Winter Park Playhouse Cabaret Series. “Patrons can't get enough of her fabulous voice, wit and charm,” Director Heather Alexander said. Seating is limited, so reservations are recommended. Tickets are $20 and include one drink. Call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org

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Josh Garrick is a writer, photographer, educator, and fine art curator. He is a member of the Curatorial Council for the Museum of Florida Art. Garrick can be reached at [email protected] or 407-522-3906.